The Legislature is proposing to authorize Guam Memorial Hospital to borrow up to $4 million to renovate the hospital's labor and delivery ward. Under Bill 393-32, proposed by Speaker Judith Won Pat, the proposed $4 million loan would be repaid with a portion of Gross Receipts Tax collection that remains "unpledged," or not tied to a spending item, in the fiscal 2015 budget.

But while hospital does need the renovations to the labor and maternity ward, those fixes shouldn't be funded through another loan. GMH hemorrhages money and constantly struggles to pay its vendors. Adding another loan will only worsen the hospital's dire finances.

Hospital officials have routinely told elected officials that GMH is broke. In July, its average bank balance was under $40,000, according to GMH Administrator and CEO Joe Verga.

In January, lawmakers allowed the hospital to borrow $25 million, but that wasn't enough to erase its debt to vendors. Lawmakers last year also earmarked gambling taxes to support the hospital, but the new gaming law hasn't delivered the funds expected. The hospital still is owed $310,000 for fiscal 2013, according to a recent audit.

What the hospital needs is more solid financial support from the government of Guam. For decades, the hospital has been losing money because of a lack of adequate cash flow and inadequate funding from GovGuam. Funding shortfalls are a major reason behind chronic problems faced by the hospital -- long waits for beds, a lack of medical supplies and delayed payments to vendors, among many others.

Our community needs its elected officials -- lawmakers and Gov. Eddie Calvo -- to ensure GMH is adequately funded and doesn't take on more debt from loans.

Lawmakers need to adequately fund the hospital. If they think a new labor and delivery ward is important, it should be a funding priority.